In the seventeenth century, it was common to imagine that the Native Americans were the descendants of one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. In the highly influential 1650 pamphlet Jewes in America, the Rev. Thomas Thorowgood explained some of the reasons why. His reasoning is a very early example of the "principle of looks like" used by Atlantis theorists and ancient astronaut theorists down to this very day. Here's a sample:

3. They doe not onely pride themselves with earerings but their noses are bored also, and have jewells hanging on them. which they call Caricori, like that is read, Esa. 3. 20, 21.

4. In all India [i.e. America] they wash themselves often, twice or thrice in the day, and the women in Brasile ten times saith Levius and the Jewes were frequent in this, Mar. 7. 3, 4, Jo. 2. 6.

5. They delight exceedingly in dancing, men and women, yea and women apart by themselves; and so they did in Israell, Exod. 13. 20, 1 Sam. 21. 11, 12, and thus especially after victories and overthrows, of enemies, which is found also, Jud. 11. 34, Jud. 21. 21, 23, & 1 Sam. 18. 6, 7.

6. As the Jewes were wont to call them fathers and mothers, they were not their naturall parents, so the Indians give the same appellation to Unkle and Aunts.

7. In America they eat no swines flesh 'tis hatefull to them, as it was among the Jewes, Levit. 11.7, Esa. 66. 15.

8. They wash strangers feet, and are very hispitall to them, and this was the known commendation of old Israell.